Deceptions (Laws of the Blood, Book 4) (Paperback)

by Susan Sizemore (Author) "AN OWL HOOTED over his shoulder..." (more)
Key Phrases: suicidal vampire, reincarnation guy, nest leader, Enforcer of the City, Mike Falconer, Walker Project (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
The fourth novel in Sizemore's Laws of the Blood series centers around the vampire Olympias, the enforcer of the Washington, D.C., area. Sara, her human servant, urges Olympias to take a companion, but she is busy enough trying to control the vampire nests in her area. She decides to oust the nests and force them to move on--a decision she knows won't be popular. When she becomes deeply attracted to Mike Falconer, a man another vampire wants for her companion, she angers the vampire community even more. Roger Betencourt, an ambitious companion, uses the unrest to sow even more discord among the vampire nests, in hopes he can unite them and overthrow Olympias. Adding to Olympias' problems is the fact that Mike is part of a top secret military project involving astral projections, and his team may have discovered the existence of vampires. As Olympias' enemies close in, she finds she has to rely on some unexpected allies in this thrilling, sexually charged yarn. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Olympias has long reigned as the Enforcer of Washington, DC, but now her devoted human servant is questioning her command. With no allies, Olympias must stand-alone against those bent on her destruction-no matter the personal cost.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ace (September 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441009840
• ISBN-13: 978-0441009848
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #367,614 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong vampire entry, September 27, 2002

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

She was the mother of Alexander the Great and Philip of Macedon's queen. She saw the rise and fall of Greece and Rome and other civilizations lost to the dust of time. Her name is Olympias and her age can be measured in millenniums but she prefers to live in the present where she is the Chief Enforcer of Washington DC. She insures that all vampires in her domain obey the laws of the council and keep their identities hidden from the mortals living along side them.

Olympias is going through the motions of her job, but she is not really paying any attention to the beings that are dissatisfied with her actions. Her "slave" Sarah wants her mistress to pay more attention to her, while a vampire's companion sets in motion a plan that will topple Olympias from power, and a black ops government backed psychic group is on the verge of discovering that vampires actually exist. To complicate matters even more the Enforcer is attracted to the head of the psychic group, a man whose vampire father lives in Olympias' territory.

Every book in this series seems better than the previous highly regarded predecessors as Susan Sizemore continues to develop the culture of the vampire society. The heroine of this novel has earned a sequel and the audience deserves learning the fate of some of the likable characters in LAWS OF THE BLOOD: DECEPTIONS. There are so many exciting subplots that tie into the main story line that readers will want to read this book more than once, but each time in one sitting.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Each City there is One Enforcer...., October 27, 2002

By	Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Wherever there are vampires, there must be laws, otherwise humanity's predators would be revealed, and become prey themselves. In Susan Sizemore's world, the laws are made by the Council, and a group of specialized vampires called hunters exists to enforce their dictates. Not a very democratic system, but one that has stood the test of time. More to the point, is has stood the test of four volumes in a successful series.

Each volume tells a story about a particular enforcer, Char McCarin in Seattle, Selim in Los Angeles, Istvan the roamer, and now Olympias in Washington, D.C. Once the wife of Philip of Macedonia, she has had 2,000 years to hone her political and power skills, rising to become the chief enforcer for the United States. In her concerns for the maintenance of the Law everywhere she has forgotten to apply it equally at home. Her laxity has permitted the local vampire nests to make their own rules, and now that she is determined to bring things back under control, rebellion is about to break out.

It does not help that she has selected a possible companion that another vampire wants, or that someone in the nests is plotting to bring her down. And what will she do with another vampire who has requested permission to die? Olympias has no choice but to burden her slaves with too much responsibility and now she must deal with the consequences. The ensuing crisis will take all her political and fighting skills.

Sizemore is one of the few writers who can write about vampire politics without becoming distractingly boring. Part of this is the mystique of the enforcers, a specialized breed that prefers to feed on the hearts of other vampires. Another part is that her characters, despite the possession of immortality and superhuman powers behave like real people. No overblown romanticism or new goth world order here, but interesting personalities dealing with life among the pointy-toothed.

The writing shows good pacing, and while not sparse does not dwell too long over any particular facet. Violence is sudden, horrific, and then over with. Much time has been spent thinking through the logic of this world, and it rings true even when it crosses over to the fantastic. The overall effect is a refreshing shift from more stereotyped vampire fiction. If such existed, I would call the 'Laws of the Blood' series vampire fiction for vampires. While the individual novels do occasionally intertwine all can stand independently, so you may begin with any volume you please.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dynamite Dark Fantasy. Suspenseful, Intriguing, Ingenious!, December 3, 2002

By	Sophie Williams (Victoria, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews

"Laws of the Blood: Deceptions" is my first Susan Sizemore novel ever, and though I came in on #4 of the series, it was surprisingly easy to become engrossed in this dark and seductive world of vampires. "Deceptions" is a gripping tale peppered with sporadic and brutal violence, smart writing, wit, humour, and some kick butt characters! I must add, however, that the story seemed a bit slow to get going, though this may be a byproduct of my coming in on the 4th book in the series. But once the story did get going, I couldn't put the book down. Upon reflection, I think I would enjoy the first hundred pages much more a second time around.

"Deceptions" tells the story of Olympias, an immensely powerful vampire who has long reigned as the Enforcer of Washington D.C. She was once the wife of Phillip of Macedon and mother of Alexander the Great, and her age can be measured in millennia. But Olympias is in for some trouble. A gifted psychic and his team working on a top secret government project are on the verge of discovering the existence of vampires, and it's Olympias's job to make sure they don't. Which normally would be a simple enough matter, only she has fallen in love with the leader of the project, military man Mike Falconer. To make matters worse, Mike is the very same man that one of the baby vampires in the area has chosen for her companion. Add in Olympias's human servant, Sara, questioning her master's choices and becoming dangerously preoccupied with a suicidal vampire, and things are starting to get uncomfortable for Olympias.

And into this scene rife with unrest has walked a very dangerous man, Roger Bentencourt. He's the companion of one of the local nest leaders and he bears a deadly grudge against Olympias. Determined to bring about Olympias's destruction, he'll use every problem and frustration to his own advantage. And while Olympias is preoccupied by her complicated romance with Mike Falconer and dealing with a dozen situations begging for her attention, Bentencourt may just succeed!

"Deceptions" is fast-paced, exciting, and entertaining. The characters are strong and well developed and I really grew to like both Olympias and Falconer. Olympias's much-loved hellhound, is wonderful, and is one of my favourite characters! This book is not for the faint of heart, but Sizemore has created a fascinating and original society of vampires, known as the Strigoi in this series, that vampire fiction and fantasy fans will NOT want to miss. "Deceptions" is compelling, riveting, and sometimes shocking fare, and I, for one, loved it. I'd like to see Olympias get a second book, as she most certainly deserves, if not demands one! So read this book, it comes highly recommended.